"4-in-1" Tablet Hardness Tester for up to 10 Samples – with Balance Connection and Optional Feeder

PTB 420

PTB 420

Automated Hardness Test Instrument with Balance Connection

The automated tablet testing instrument PTB 420 is a dual test mode instrument to determine the diameter, thickness and hardness of tablets. The instrument is made in strict compliance with the EP <2.9.8> and USP <1217> Pharmacopoeia.

PTB 420

Measurement of 4 different parameters

Prior to testing the hardness of the tablet the PTB 420 can measure sample thickness (or height) and diameter (or length). The thickness is detected automatically by an optical system. The samples are automatically positioned by means of movable alignment jaws. The behaviour of the jaw’s movement is adjustable to accommodate many different shapes of tablets and oblongs. The instrument can be set to either linear force or linear speed increase mode for the tablet hardness test. Furthermore, PTB 420 allows the connection of a Mettler-Toledo or Sartorius analytical balance to measure the weight of the samples as well. PTB 420 offer two modes for the weight measurement: either weigh each sample individually, before placing them into the tablet magazine or weigh all samples together and calculate the average weight.

Large back-lit color LC-display for navigation

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Navigate Through the Menu

PTB 420 features a large, back-lit color LCD. Menu navigation is done by use of a click wheel similar to the ones used in many car navigation systems. This allows the user to rapidly scroll through the menus to make his selections. Quickly create methods by entering the nominal test information for thickness, diameter, hardness and weight via the alpha-numerical keyboard and select the unit to measure (mm/in, Kp/N/Sc).

Start a Test

It is also possible to use the quick test functionality to work without creating a method first and without entering any nominal values. When creating a method, it is also possible to disable certain measurements, for example to only test the hardness of a tablet. The angle of the operation panel can be adjusted freely to guarantee optimal visibility, whether the user is sitting in front of the instrument or operating it from a standing position. To perform a test with PTB 420, either insert the samples into the tablet magazine or drop the individual samples into the unique sample positioning station for automated correct alignment inside the combined thickness, diameter and hardness test station.

Test Procedure

A class 1 laser beam is used for the touch free measurement of the sample thickness. The beam is used to illuminate a CCD-sensor on the other side of the measurement area. The sample is scanned by the laser beam while simultaneously being moved in front of the CCD-sensor by the moving sample dish. The height of the sample can be determined form the sample’s shadow on the CCD-sensor. Thereafter the sample is automatically moved towards the force jaw to measure the diameter and finally the hardness by breaking it. Once the test is finished and the sample is broken, the sample dish moves backwards to drop the sample fragments into the removable waste container. The results are immediately displayed and may be printed on a connected printer. The print-out includes each individual result as well as product information, date, time, user, instrument serial number and statistics.

Operation Principle of the Hardness Measurement

The current monographs of the USP and EP Pharmacopoeia define how a tablet hardness testing instrument should work, but without establishing data of how to increase the applied force and when to detect a sample to be broken. This often causes problems when trying to compare results of the same tablet measured with instruments from different manufacturers. The hardness result is directly influenced by the contact speed and force increase rate of testing instrument. A faster operated test jaw means a lower reproducibility and often higher absolute results.

In order to offer the possibility to select an operating mode which will offer you similar results to other instruments you may already use, PTB 420 allows to set the force mode by selecting between linear force increase or linear speed increase and the set the force rate. When the instrument detects that the sample has been touched, it switches to the measuring mode and starts to increase the force applied to the sample. Another adjustable parameter the break detection force to test softer samples as well as gel capsules. Often, samples such as soft gel capsules do not break but become smaller in diameter (deformation). To increase the sensitivity of the instrument and to get a result without just squashing the sample, the total testing distance of the jaw after contact with the sample can be programmed.

Which Force Mode to Select?

Since more than 10 years ago all Pharma Test tablet hardness testing instruments offer the possibility to select either linear force or linear speed increase. Linear force increase offers the most accurate control, as the rate of increase is directly controlled by the electronic load cell used to read the force. Also it is quite simple to validate the correct and linear operation, as a tablet with, for example 100N hardness, will be broken within 5 seconds, when 20N/s had been set as force increase rate. Linear speed increase can also be used; here the driving speed of the stepper motor is kept linear.

Actually, as long as the touching force is kept low, there is not too much difference in the results between the two modes, but validation of this mode is reasonably difficult and requires specific equipment. In general results obtained with the linear speed increase mode are less reproducible than the ones with linear force increase mode. Therefore Pharma Test recommends using linear force increase. The test of “soft” tablets often requires an increase of the standard force setting, otherwise the sample gets deformed only but does not break. We will continue to offer both modes of operation in order to offer the possibility of comparing results of different instruments by setting the same parameters of operation.

Optional Equipment

The optional tablet transport magazine holds 10 samples, with a maximal diameter of 22mm and a maximum width of 30mm. The magazine is connected to the PTB 420 instrument by means of a magnetic coupling which is connected to the drive inside the PTB 420. The transport belt moves forward to drop one sample directly into the alignment jaws in the testing station of PTB 420. Once the test has finished and the broken sample is released into the waste container, the next sample is supplied automatically. The magazine can be refilled at any time to allow the testing of larger batches in one test run.

As the tablet magazine can easily be removed from the PTB 420, it may be used to collect samples directly at a tablet press. In this case it is possible to use several magazines, one for each tablet press, for example. The PTB 420 features a RS232 interface to connect a Mettler-Toledo or Sartorius analytical balance of 0.1mg accuracy. This way it is possible to test either the individual weight or average weight of all samples prior to the test of the physical parameters of thickness, diameter and hardness. The samples are placed manually from the balance either directly into the testing station of PTB 420 or into the tablet magazine.

Calibration and Adjustment

The current USP Pharmacopeia requires the force sensor of a tablet hardness testing instrument to be calibrated periodically over the complete measuring range (or the range used for measuring samples) with a precision of 1N. All Pharma Test tablet hardness testing instrument can be statically calibrated over the complete measuring range by the use of different traceable counterweights. All instruments support the checking of at least three different points during calibration to prove the linearity of the force sensor. Furthermore, Pharma Test offers the PT-MT3 magnetic tablets to calibrate the breakpoint detection of the whole tablet hardness testing instrument (force sensor and mechanics of the instrument). All Pharma Test tablet hardness testing instruments are fully compliant to the requirements of the current USP Pharmacopeia.

PTB 420 features an access controlled calibration and adjustment program for the three testing stations. For the thickness and diameter station, certified reference blocks are used for both calibration and adjustment. Weight sets are used to calibrate and adjust the force sensor (load cell) of the instrument over the complete measuring range. For the two point adjustment (zero and reference) of the load cell inside the hardness station a certified reference weight of 10 kg is used. For validation purposes the use 5 up to 50kg certified weights is recommended. The latest calibration and adjustment results are stored on the instrument and can be printed and signed. To prove the linearity of the built-in load cell during a hardness test, the operator can program a print-out of the force curve recorded during a test. This will show the linear increase of the adjusted force mode.

Features

Tablet hardness testing in full compliance to USP <1217> and EP <2.9.8> Pharmacopeia

Hardness testing in compliance with the EP <2.9.8> and USP <1217> Pharmacopoeia

IQ/OQ documents included free of charge

Technical Specifications

Parameter

Specification

Hardness Testing Range

2.0 – 300.0N (optional 5.0 – 500.0N and 10 – 1000N)

Hardness Accuracy

Better than 1N

Thickness Testing Range

2.00 – 12.00mm

Thickness Accuracy

Better than ±0.05mm

Diameter Testing Range

2.00 – 30.00mm without magazine

Possible Sample Size

(When Using a Magazine)

length max. 25mm, width/diameter max. 20mm

Diameter Accuracy

Better than ±0.05mm

Weight Measurement

by using a connected, external Mettler-Toledo or Sartorius balance (balance not included in standard supply scope), the individual or average weight can be recognized and automatically transferred to the PTB420.

All interface ports match the SELV- (save extra low voltage) codes. All additional instruments (printer, balance…) plugged to the PTB 420 must also match the SELV-codes.

Instrument Housing

Stainless steel (304) to meet GLP requirements

Power

110/230 Volt AC, 50/60 Hz

Current Consumption

0,25A at 230V; 0,5A at 115V; 60W

Main Fuse

2 x T2,0A

Grade of Pollution

2

Operational Altitude

0 – 2000 m; 0 – 6500 ft

Installation Requirements

» Ambient Temperature 10-40°C

» Relative Humidity 20-90%rH

» Desk with at least 50 kg working load. All around the instrument at least 10cm free distance to walls or other equipment. Free access to the mains power plug and switch. No special ventilation necessary.